How I Buy Organic Produce!

I buy as much organic produce as my budget will allow.  However, organic produce is often more expensive.  So I make my choices are the grocery store wisely.

Here are my tips-

1.  Memorize the Dirty Dozen List (or print off a wallet sized version here).

The Environmental Working Group  complies a list of the fruits and vegetables with the most pesticide residues.  The list is updated yearly.  I always buy these items in their organic form when available.  

• apples
• celery
• cherry tomatoes
• cucumbers
• grapes
• hot peppers
• nectarines (imported)
• peaches
• potatoes
• spinach
• strawberries
• sweet bell peppers
• collards and kale
• summer squash and zucchini

2.  Memorize the Clean Fifteen (or, again, print a list)

The Environmental Working Group has a list of the 'cleanest' 15 fruits and vegetables that have the least amount of pesticide residue.  At the grocery store I will often buy these items conventionally to save money.  However, check the sales!!!!  I often find that organic versions of the clean fifteen are often cheaper or the same price as the conventional.  So I then vote with my dollar and buy organic!

• asparagus
• avocado
• cabbage
• cantaloupe
• corn (see note below on corn)
• eggplant
• grapefruit
• kiwi
• mango
• mushrooms
• onions
• papayas
• pineapples
• sweet peas (frozen)
• sweet potatoes

3. Do some price comparisons!

I shop at four different groceries stores over the course of a month.  That might seem a bit insane to most but it actually works quite well with my work schedule.   Below you can see why.

• Kroger-  I tend to visit Kroger about once a week.  I go over my lunch break at work because I work next to one.  Kroger is the best place to buy bags of organic apples and bags of organic potatoes.  Everything else is more expensive.  EXCEPT when it is on sale.  A sale at Kroger will always beat out any other store.  So check your weekly add, check for unadvertised sales in the frozen aisle, and look for manager's specials.  I always look for organic spinach, organic kale, and fresh and frozen organic berries.
• Trader Joe's- I visit Trader Joe's about once a week.  This is my 'go to' store for many organic and unprocessed food items as their prices are always cheaper that any other store. Trader Joe's does not have sales but their base prices are great.  Trader Joe's is the best place to buy organic frozen corn, organic frozen blueberries, and organic frozen strawberries.  The quality of the produce at Trader Joe's varies.
• Whole Foods-  For me, Whole Foods less than a mile from Trader Joe's.  Whole Foods has a few specialty allergy-friendly items that are hard to find other places.  So I visit Whole Foods about 1-2 times per month.  I always take a few extra minutes to check the coupons at the front of the store.  Then I peruse the produce sections for sales and good deals.  Often this is the only place that I can find organic grapes and they have the highest quality organic berries (ie. they last the longest in my fridge).
• Rainbow Blossom- My daughter gets a weekly allergy shot for environmental allergies. Rainbow Blossom, a local natural food store, is next door.  Overall their prices are quite a bit higher than any of the other options.  So again, I stop in and check out the sales.  We visit this store about twice a month.

4.  Buy frozen!

Organic fruits and vegetables are often very similar in cost to the conventional.  Especially if you buy then on sale.  When I find a good sale I stock up!!!!  I always keep the following on hand in my freezer- organic sweet corn, organic green beans, organic strawberries, and organic blueberries.

5.  Eliminate Waste!

Avoid overbuying fruits and vegetables to avoid waste.  Freeze unused portions before they go bad.  For example, I will chop up my organic red bell peppers and freeze unused portions to use another day.